Divergences and Convergences of Perspective: Amerindian Perspectivism, Phenomenology, and Speculative Realism

Viveiros de Castro's concept of comparison as ontology defines the ontological turn in anthropology, requiring philosophy to adopt a comparative strategy. Morten Pedersen interprets this turn as fulfilling an anthropological version of Husserl's phenomenological method, drawing phenomenology into dialogue with its critique by Speculative Realism. Amerindian perspectivism necessitates reconceptualizing perspective as a challenge to established discourses, particularly Kantian perspectivism and its offspring. It proposes cosmological deictics that hold a spatiality of the other's perspective, opposing Kant's system. Phenomenology, as a Kantian offspring, faces a predicament intertwined with the critique of correlationism from Speculative Realisms, but its synthetic character allows flexibility to traverse these charges. The article draws a comparative picture of dynamic co-evolution of recent thought, striving for a synthetic multiplicity permeated by a common perspectival thread.

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Abstract

Abstract According to Viveiros de Castro, comparison as ontology defines the ontological turn in anthropology. It presents a necessity for philosophy to approach the matter with comparative strategy. Morten Pedersen claims that ontological turn should be interpreted as a fulfillment of an anthropological version of Husserl’s method. Thus, phenomenology enters the field of interest along with its critique in Speculative Realism. In this article, we will see clearly why this selection is not accidental but rather unavoidable. Amerindian perspectivism necessitates the philosophical reconceptualization of perspective in general, which is to be taken as a challenge for the established discourses. The need arises to rethink the problematic of Kantian perspectivism and its offspring. Amerindian perspectivism proposes cosmological deictics that hold a spatiality of the perspective of the other, of the in-itself, thus it comes into an opposition to Kant’s system. Phenomenological perspective, as one of the Kantian offspring, faces a predicament that is interwoven with the critique of correlationism arriving from Speculative Realisms. The synthetic character of phenomenology allows enough flexibility for it to traverse these recent charges. We will draw a comparative picture of dynamic co-evolution of strains of recent thought, striving for a synthetic multiplicity, permeated by a common perspectival thread.